Research Field

We see ethnography as:

research that takes place over time to allow a fuller range of empirical situations to be observed and analysed and to allow for the emergence of contradictory behaviours and perspectives. Time in the field, alongside time for analysis and interpretation, allows continuous reflections concerning the complexity of human contexts.

considering relations between the appropriate cultural, political and social levels of the research site and the individual's and group's/community's agency at the research site.

including theoretical perspectives in order to:

'sensitize' field research and analysis;

provide an opportunity to use empirical ethnographic research for the interrogation of macro and middle range theories;

develop new theory.

The structural areas of focus

The structural areas of focus would include the nature of life in educational institutions as experienced by policy-makers, managers, teachers, teaching assistants, parents and learners. Other perspectives include those who influence and are affected by education, those excluded from it and those who choose to distance themselves from those institutions. Major themes include gender, race, class and disabilities.

We welcome all representations involving foci from micro ethnographic discourse analysis through cultural and anthropological study to sociological analysis and we welcome research based on life histories although we do not consider these strictly ethnography. As well as substantial papers we welcome those that focus on methodological issues and perspectives from across the field.

Promoting Symposia

We look forward to pan European engagements, collusions and illuminations through the presentation of diverse perspectives. To this end we would like to encourage potential ECER delegates to consider submitting more Symposiums with a named Discussant. We feel that these provide a valuable opportunity to reflect on research themes and to engage with connected issues and debates. If you have problems in finding appropriate colleagues to join a symposium please consider

or send an email message to mailto:jiscmail@jiscmail.ac.uk and insert the following in the main text of the message "join ethnography-in-education firstname lastname". You will then be able to contact other interested parties who could join your symposium.